The Comprehensive Plan is a long-term guide for maintaining the quality of life for residents and offers recommendations on growth and land use. It’s designed to provide guidance to the County, municipalities, and other agencies; coordinate land use with transportation and plan for transportation improvements; and promote coordination between the County and municipalities, as well as among municipalities.
It’s been more than ten years since the last update to the economic development portion of the Comprehensive Plan. An update is needed to help guide the economic development philosophy and activity for Cumberland County. Goals include increasing the commercial and industrial tax base; increasing the median income and providing opportunities for the broadest array of residents; and maintaining a diversified industry base. The proposed Strategic Economic Development Plan focuses on five industry clusters - tourism, agribusiness, transportation and warehousing, health care and social assistance, and manufacturing and professional services.
Three public outreach sessions are scheduled throughout the County to educate the public about the plan and allow opportunity for public comment. CAEDC will present the fundamental economic development goals for the County along with strategies and actions for the designated focus areas at the following public meetings:
October 21st at Upper Allen Township Building, 100 Gettysburg Pike, Mechanicsburg from 8:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.
October 22nd at North Middleton Township Building, 2051 Spring Road, Carlisle from 4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
November 2nd at Vigilant Hose Company, 20 Walnut Bottom Road, Shippensburg from 4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
CAEDC is Cumberland County’s authorized agency charged with leveraging and promoting economic development and tourism assets in the Cumberland Valley to drive growth, create jobs and improve the quality of life. The Strategic Economic Development Plan will be presented to the Board of Commissioners before the end of the year for adoption. Upon the County’s adoption of the Plan, CAEDC will administer it. To learn more about the public outreach meetings and the proposed Strategic Economic Development Plan for Cumberland County visit CAEDC online at www.cumberlandbusiness.com or contact Kristen Rowe, CAEDC Communications Manager at 717.240.7195.